LAIKA, the animation studio behind the Academy Award® nominated "Kubo and the Two Strings," "The Boxtrolls," "ParaNorman" and "Coraline," announces its fifth and most ambitious film to date "MISSING LINK."

The title, U.S. release date (Spring, 2019) and complete cast details were revealed today by LAIKA President & CEO Travis Knight as he prepares to meet with foreign buyers at the Cannes Film Festival.

"Missing Link" will be distributed in the U.S. by Annapurna Pictures.

AGC International, the sales and distribution division of AGC Studios, is handling international sales.

As species go, he's as endangered as they get; he's the last of his kind, and he's lonely.

Proposing a daring quest to seek out his rumored distant relatives, he enlists Sir Lionel's help in an odyssey around the world to find the fabled valley of Shangri-La.

Together with Adelina Fortnight (voiced by Zoe Saldana), an independent and resourceful adventurer who possesses the only known map to the group's secret destination, the unlikely trio embarks on a riotous rollercoaster of a ride.

Along the way, our fearless explorers encounter more than their fair share of peril, stalked at every turn by dastardly villains seeking to thwart their mission.

Through it all, Mr. Link's disarming charm and good-humored conviction provide the emotional and comedic foundation of this fun-filled family film.

Bursting with humor, heart, and a profound message of acceptance and finding one's place, "Missing Link" is written and directed by Oscar® nominee Chris Butler (ParaNorman).

LAIKA's head of production and Oscar® nominee Arianne Sutner (ParaNorman, Kubo and the Two Strings) is producing with Mr. Knight, who earned an Academy Award® nomination and BAFTA win for his directorial debut on Kubo.

"It was a constant source of delight to witness how our game and captivating cast imbued these larger- than- life characters with distinct personality," writer/director Chris Butler said. "Hugh lends Sir Lionel a giddy schoolboy enthusiasm bubbling beneath the surface of his suave English gent; Zoe brings an unflappable ardor and a witty playfulness to Adelina, and Zach's performance as Link is not only laugh-out-loud funny, but a beautifully nuanced balance of innocence and vulnerability. It was a treat to be able to join this eclectic gang of adventurers on their journey across the world."

In addition to Jackman, Saldana and Galifianakis, the estimable voice cast boasts a roster of internationally renowned and award-winning actors from all corners of the world.

"It's only now with our fifth film that as a team we have the experience, the know-how and the collaborative confidence to even attempt a movie of this size and scope," producer Arianne Sutner said. "We created 110 sets with 65 unique locations to achieve the film's scale, majesty and geographic beauty. I couldn't be more in awe of our LAIKA crew members. Their endless reserves of imagination were pushed to the limit during the production of this ambitious movie, and we ended up soaring past those limits."

About LAIKA:Fueled by the vision of its owner, Nike co-founder and former Chairman Philip H. Knight, and its President & CEO Travis Knight, feature film animation studio LAIKA was founded in 2005. Located just outside Portland, Oregon, LAIKA was awarded a Scientific and Technology Oscar® for its innovation in 3D printing in 2016. Its four films, Kubo and the Two Strings (2016); The Boxtrolls (2014); ParaNorman (2012), and Coraline (2009) were all nominated for Oscars® and PGA Awards as Outstanding Animated Film. Kubo, which marked the directorial debut of Travis Knight, also received an Oscar® nomination for Outstanding Visual Effects and the BAFTA Award as well as three Annie Awards, the National Board of Review and 19 regional and critics' group awards. The Boxtrolls earned Critics' Choice and Golden Globe Award nominations and 13 Annie Award nominations, more than any other film that year. ParaNorman garnered BAFTA, Critics' Choice, and GLAAD Media Award nominations, won two Annie Awards and was cited as the year's best animated film by 14 critics' groups. Coraline earned Golden Globe, BAFTA, and Critics' Choice nominations, and was named one of the year's 10 Best Films by the American Film Institute (AFI). For more information, visit our brand new website at laika.com.

About Annapurna Pictures:Annapurna, founded by Megan Ellison in 2011, focuses on creating sophisticated, high-quality content that is critically and commercially conscious while still appealing to a diverse audience. By upholding the company's vision to put filmmakers and artists first and preserve their authentic creative voices no matter the genre or medium, the company has garnered a total of 38 Academy Award nominations, including four Best Picture nods for American Hustle, Her, Zero Dark Thirty, and Phantom Thread. Annapurna's upcoming releases include, Boots Riley's debut film, Sorry to Bother You, Jacques Audiard's Sisters Brothers, Barry Jenkin's film adaptation of James Baldwin's If Beale Street Could Talk, Richard Linklater's adaptation of Maria Semple's, Where'd You Go, Bernadette, and Adam Mckay's Untitled Dick Cheney Project. For more information, visit annapurna.pictures

About AGC STUDIOSAGC Studios was founded and launched by Chairman and CEO Stuart Ford in February 2017 as a platform to develop, produce, finance and globally license a diverse portfolio of feature films, scripted, unscripted and factual television, digital and musical content from its dual headquarters in Los Angeles and London. The studio's Hollywood output has a wide-ranging multicultural focus, designed for exploitation across an array of global platforms including major studio partnerships, streaming platforms, traditional broadcast and cable television networks and independent distributors, both in the US and internationally. AGC Studios is initially backed by three key strategic investors; Latin American private asset management firm MediaNet Partners; Silicon Valley entrepreneur, Symantec CEO and founder and chairman of Fibonacci Films, Greg Clark; and Image Nation Abu Dhabi, one of the leading media and entertainment companies in the Arabic-speaking world. Chief Operating Officer Miguel Palos is also a stakeholder in and co-founder of the business with Ford.